March 10, 2016 - U.S. SOUTH - At least three people were killed and thousands forced from
their homes as a second round of severe rains poured down in parts of
the South. The National Weather Service is calling the flash flooding a
historic event.

Rivers rose to near-record levels,
resulting in cars and homes near Shreveport, Alabama being submerged by
several feet of water. Flood conditions are expected to last until early
Saturday in northwestern Louisiana.

Governor John Bel
Edwards declared a state of emergency in 16 Louisiana parishes, with the
National Guard being called in to assist evacuation efforts after the
rains began on Wednesday morning.

Spokeswoman Rebekah Malone says that the Guard evacuated 361 people in Louisiana’s Bossier, Morehouse, and Ouchita parishes, according to Fox News.

A 75-year-old man drowned on Wednesday afternoon near Lucky, Louisiana while attempting to drive through a flooded highway. A female passenger driving with him managed to be pulled to safety, but is suffering from hypothermia, The Weather Channel reported.

Officials ordered the mandatory evacuation of 3,500 homes as a precaution as the water in a nearby bayou was approaching the top of its levee.

“After a while, with more rain coming in, we’re probably not going to be able to get in and out of our neighborhood because a lot of it is under water,” resident Jennifer Williams told KTBS. “A lot of the homes are under water.”

Authorities in the Texas counties of Harrison and Marion, located to the west of Shreveport, also issued evacuation orders due to the severe rains, with flooding expected to continue through Sunday.

WATCH: Widespread flooding in the U.S. South.

“We expect some areas to get 15 inches plus of rain,” National Weather Service forecaster Bob Oravec said, according to Reuters. “It looks like a pretty bad situation.”

A 22-year-old man was killed in southeastern Texas on Sunday night when his kayak capsized, according to AP. He was not wearing a life jacket, police said.

A 30-year-old man drowned in his SUV in Southwest Oklahoma on Tuesday night while trying to cross a bridge covered in floodwaters, according to Reuters. A passenger in the vehicle managed to swim to safety. - RT.

March 10, 2016 - PACIFIC NORTHWEST - Could a tsunami similar to the one that devastated Japan five
years ago this week wreak the same kind of havoc along our northern
Pacific Coast?

Unfortunately, the experts say it's just a matter of
time.

In March 2011 the world watched in awe and horror as a colossal tsunami ravaged eastern Japan -- the result of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake.

Entire cities were washed away; millions were stranded without power or water. 15,000 died.It was an otherworldy event that happened thousands of miles away. Thank goodness, many Americans thought, it couldn't happen here.

But it could happen here.

In fact, scientists say it's a question of when -- not IF -- a devastating earthquake, followed by a huge tsunami, strikes the continental United States, right in the Pacific Northwest.

WATCH: Anticipating the next mega-quake.

"This would be like five or six Katrinas all at once, up and down from California to Canada, would be the closest thing I can think of," said Chris Goldfinger, a paleo-seismologist at Oregon State University.

It may sound like a Hollywood disaster movie, but it's not; this is the future for the region's seven million people, says Goldfinger. His research shows much of the region is overdue for a major quake.

The last one was back in 1700 ... long before there were large cities right in harm's way. "If it happens anytime soon it woudl just devastate the area," he said.

Goldfinger estimates there's a one-in-three chance this quake will strike sometime in the next 50 years.

"We're not completely unprepared, but we're pretty darn close," he said. "On a scale of one to ten, we're probably a little shy of one at this point."

Ground Zero is the 700-mile-long area off the Pacific Coast called the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the North American tectonic plate meets another plate known as the Juan de Fuca.

Experts say the Pacific Northwest is overdue for a devastating earthquake and tsunami that could kill thousands (under the best-case scenario),
but only some communities are preparing. CBS News

The two plates are converging -- one sliding under the other -- but are stuck. "And so what happens is the weaker plate, which is North America, buckles," said Goldfinger. "And eventually something's going to give, and so the coastline that's been jacked up over 500-ish years or so is going to drop about a meter in about a minute or so."

And that's just the earthquake. Next comes a tsunami, with waves as high as 50 feet roaring on shore, reaching miles inland.

The agency has spent years preparing the federal response to an earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific Northwest. FEMA's best-case scenario: 10,000 dead. And that's assuming no beach tourists, which would lead to their worst-case scenario -- simply too terrifying to contemplate.

"Depending on when it happens, we're talking numbers that this nation I'm not sure is really prepared to deal with," said Murphy.

"Potentially the greatest natural disaster this country has ever experienced?" asked Dahler.

"I would say it has the potential for that. This is an event you send everything to, and scale back down if you don't need it."

The quake could displace a million people from northern California to southern Canada. Large parts of Seattle, Portland and Vancouver will crumble. In coastal towns, roads and bridges will likely be impassable, stranding whole communities. The region's economy could collapse. Rebuilding might take years, even decades.

And few places are more at risk than Seaside, Oregon's school complex -- 1,500 students in four aging buildings.

"The structural engineers tell us that a vast majority of the building will collapse in a seismic event," said Superintendent Doug Dougherty.

Three of Seaside's four schools are also in the tsunami danger zone. Its high school is just feet away from the Pacific Ocean.

A new school under construction will provide an evacuation area for students on its roof. CBS News

"The community, they were looking at the safety of not just their children now, but generations in the future," Akerland said. "This is not an affluent community, so it was a huge commitment."

Other evacuation plans and seismic upgrades are taking place. But not nearly fast enough, say the experts.

Back at Seaside, Oregon, three years ago, the school district did try moving all its students to a new campus outside the tsunami zone. But when they found out it would take an 18 percent property tax increase, the voters rejected the measure by a margin of almost two-to-one.

Dahler asked, "When the bond measure to move the schools to a safer area failed, were you surprised?"

"Oh, I was not only surprised, but heartbroken," replied Dougherty. "It's just very, very expensive for our local citizens to foot the bill entirely. I hope people don't understand the implications of their decisions because that would basically be writing off an entire school district's student population."

With no money from the state, or the federal government, Dougherty says he's planning to retire and work for another ballot campaign for a new campus.

And back at Oregon State, Chris Goldfinger continues to warn about a disaster that science says is just a matter of time.

"This is going to scare a lot of people," said Dahler.

"Well, I don't think that's a bad thing," Goldfinger replied. "If you're really well-prepared, and the infrastructure is hardened, that can be the end of it. If you don't plan at all, it's going to be a catastrophe. And then there's just nothing you can do about that." - CBS News.

A BC Hydro crew repairs a downed power line on Thursday morning in Metro Vancouver. (GP Mendoza/CBC)

March 10, 2016 - BRITISH COLUMBIA - Powerful winds downed trees and power lines, closed schools and
forced BC Ferries to cancel several sailings along the South Coast of
B.C. on Thursday morning.

At 10 a.m. PT BC Hydro was reporting
about 110,000 customers on the Lower Mainland, including Metro
Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the Sunshine Coast were without power.

More than 10,000 customers were also without power on Vancouver Island during the height of the storm.

BC Hydro was reporting about 110,000 customers were without power on Thursday morning. (BC Hydro/Google Maps)

The power outages also knocked out power to several traffic lights, creating delays for morning commuters. Check with @CBCTraffic on Twitter for updates.

The winds began Wednesday night and appeared to have subsided by Thursday morning. But then a new wind warning issued at 6 a.m.
PT said strong southerly winds with gusts up to 90 km/h were occurring
over much of Metro Vancouver and the Western Fraser Valley this morning.

Exposed coastal sections of East Vancouver Island, the Southern Gulf
Islands and the Sunshine Coast were also seeing southeast winds of 60 to
80 km/h as a deep low pressure centre moved north of Vancouver Island, according to Environment Canada.

Still seeing a lot of
power outages and debris/trees blocking traffic. Please be very careful
this morning! #CBC

The Coquitlam School District website said,
"Power is currently out at some schools in the Mary Hill and North Port
Coquitlam/Victoria Drive region. We currently do not have an estimated
time for the return of power. All parents should ensure the care and
safety of their children in getting them to school.

"All SD43 schools are open today and starting classes at regularly
scheduled times until further specific school closure updates are made.
As always, it is at the discretion of parents as to whether they send
their children to school."

All #SD43 schools are open today and starting classes at regularly scheduled times until further specific school closure updates are made.

March 10, 2016 - TEXAS, UNITED STATES - As storms were rolling through the Hill Country on Tuesday morning, KXAN
viewer Gage Watson sent a ReportIt video of what appears to be a
tornado on Lake Buchanan.

Watson said he was on the lake fishing with his dad when they spotted
the formation. "The rain just started coming down as we we were putting
out our fishing poles," said Watson.

As the spout formed, Watson and his
dad pulled their boat up to a bank and waited for the storm to pass.

KXAN's First Warning Weather Team tracked the storm as it moved through the area around 7:30 a.m.

After the storm passed, the father and son team went back to fishing as normal.

While condition of one of the injured person is stated to be critical, two others are out of danger, police said.

Mild tension has prevailed in the area following the animals attack. However, no untoward incident had occurred, they said.

Such act of trespassing and consequent attack on humans by wild boar was not earlier witnessed in the village.

The animal might haves sneaked into the village to eat crops and
standing vegetable plants though area is bereft of forest cover , said
Divisional Forest Officer, Bimal Prasana Acharya.

The forest department is bearing the cost of treatment of the injured
persons. Besides compensation grants will also be disbursed, he said.

The forest department is aware of animals intrusion into village areas.
Forest personnel have begun night watch and vigil in villages which are
marked by straying of animals.

Villagers have been advised to avoid movement during night hours when
animals mostly make their way to crop fields in village areas. Besides
steel-net-barricade is being installed shortly in villager borders to
ward off the animals intrusion into human settlements , added DFO
Acharya. - The Statesman.

March 10, 2016 - EARTH - The following constitutes the new activity, unrest and ongoing reports of volcanoes across the globe.

Tungurahua (Ecuador):
The activity of the volcano has strongly increased since last weekend - a
new surge of magma has been arriving at the summit vent and is
producing a violent eruption from the summit crater. Its climax so far
occurred this morning, at 07:51 local time, when a powerful explosion
generated an eruption column that rose approx. 6 km above the crater and
reached an altitude of estimated 36,000 ft (11 km). Pyroclastic flows
(generated by partial column collapse) descended over 2000 m towards the
Mandur and Achupashal areas.

Similar explosive activity, with increasing tendency, had
already been occurring during the previous days, in particular since
Sunday. Very strong explosions also occurred yesterday afternoon at
16:28 local time, two around noon (also yesterday), as well as at 19:35
and 05:35 local time on Sunday (March 6). All of them produced
pyroclastic flows into various directions towards the western (Romero
and Achupashal) and northern sectors (Mandur).

Violent shock waves that rattled windows and doors and ground rumblings accompanied the explosions and most of the time, a steam and ash column was rising 3-4 km from the volcano. At night, explosions could be seen ejecting incandescent material to great height (many 100 meters) and distances over the volcano's cone, generating spectacular avalanches.

Considerable ash fall has been affecting various areas around the volcano. In particular, the western sectors have suffered most. A team of IGEPN scientists measured a load of 7700 g/m2 of ash had accumulated since the end of February in the areas of Manzano and Choglontus. The area is rich in corn fields which have been severely damaged by the ongoing eruption.

On March 9, activity remained very elevated at the volcano. During yesterday and
the night, several more explosions occurred ejecting incandescent
material that produced glowing avalanches of up to 1500 length mainly on
the western and northwestern flanks.

Strong explosion from Tungurahua; a small pyroclastic flow can be seen departing from the base of
the eruption column.

Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): A series of small explosions occurred at the volcano yesterday. The
first happened in the afternoon at 16:32 local time.

The Manizales
volcano observatory recorded a pulse in tremor and reported an ash plume
that rose 1300 m above the summit.

Eruption of Nevado del Ruiz

Another small explosion

Similar explosions with ash emissions could be seen on webcam images
at 18:15 and 18:40 (local time), before night obscured the view. No
incandescence is visible from the crater.

Light ash fall probably occurred in areas to the SW belonging to the departments of Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas.

Sangay (Ecuador): The Geophysical Institute (IGEPN) reported an increase in activity from
the volcano since March 5, when volcanic earthquakes started to become
more frequent in number.

Between 8 and 9 March, this activity picked up significantly and
signs of small explosions (11 in total since March 7th) as well as small
episodes of tremor appeared. This probably means that new magma has
arrived to produce strombolian activity in the summit crater. A thermal
anomaly visible on satellite data fits this interpretation well.

Sangay's seismicity of the SAGA station since 4 Mar 2016 (IGEPN

Explosions and seismicity at Sangay since March (IGEPN)

Sangay is one of the country's most active volcanoes, but thanks to
its very remote location on the southeast side of the Cordillera Real it
is rarely visited and directly observed. However, there is evidence
that it has been in semi-permanent activity since at least 1628.

The last eruptive phase of the volcano had begun in January 2015 and
lasted until mid April 2015. It produced two small lava flows that
reached a few hundred meters below the central crater and moderately
large ash plumes. No inhabited areas were affected (there are none very
close either).

Typical eruptive episodes (one of which has just started, it seems)
consists of strombolian activity, emission of lava flows, and - when
activity becomes more intense - pyroclastic flows and larger explosions
that produce ash plumes.

IGEPN recommends not to ascend the volcano at the moment.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia):
Explosions and generally small pyroclastic flows, sometimes happening
together, continue to occur at the volcano at rates of a few per day on
average.

Yesterday evening 17:55 local time, an explosion produced a plume that rose 2.3 km and a pyroclastic flow that traveled 1.5 km.

Dukono (Halmahera): Strong ash emissions continue to be reported from the volcano. Yesterday, a plume stretched almost 100 km to the NW.

Dukono's ash plume over northern Halmahera seen on NASA's Terra satellite on March 7, 2016

Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): A warning was issued for the volcano and its alert level raised to 3
("siaga" - alert, on a scale of 1-4) last Monday after a seismic swarm
was detected to occur under the edifice.

The previous day (7 Mar), PVMBG recorded 25 deep and 138 shallow
volcanic quakes, 23 rockfall signals as well as a tremor signal. In
addition, deformation (inflation) was measured to occur under the
Tompaluan crater.

Earthquake swarm at Lokon volcano on March 8, 2016 (VSI)

Seismicity at Lokon during the past weeks (VSI)

While no to little changes were seen in surface activity
(degassing), these geophysical parameters seem to suggest that internal
pressure in the hydrothermal system of the volcano has recently
increased and the risk of sudden explosions (phreatic or
phreatomagmatic) has to be considered elevated at the moment.

Visitors and locals are advised not to approach the crater within a radius of 2.5 km.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): No significant changes in the ongoing eruption of Kilauea have occurred since the last update.

The
lava lake at the summit caldera has dropped again and was about 33 m
(108 ft) below the rim of the Overlook crater yesterday.

Santiaguito (Guatemala):
Activity at the Caliente lava dome continues to be high. Another
moderately strong explosion occurred yesterday morning, causing a part
of the Caliente lava dome to collapse and form pyroclastic flows on its
north-northeastern flank.

According to a bulletin of the INSIVUMEH
volcano observatory, an ash column rose to 4,000 m altitude and
produced light ash fall in areas to the NNE including Quetzaltenango and
Santa Marcos Palajunoj.

Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): The eruptive activity at the remote Island in southern Japan continues.
It even seems to have picked up in intensity, judging from the
increasingly frequent volcanic ash reports issued by Tokyo VAAC and the
sometimes very strong glow visible from neighboring islands.

Eruption from Suwanose-Jima.

The exact type of activity in the Otake crater is unknown, but likely consists of strong, ash-rich strombolian explosions.

Makian (Halmahera):
The alert level of Makian Island's Kie Besi volcano was raised from 1
(normal) to 2 ("waspada" = watch) yesterday, as an increase in seismic
activity has been detected recently under the volcano.

The stratovolcano, which forms a small island south of Ternate (and is in the center line of tomorrow's Solar Eclipse, where one of our groups is currently stationed...), is one of the regions most active (and dangerous) volcanoes with a number of strong explosive eruptions in historic times, last in 1988.

Already on 2 June 2009, a similar increase in internal activity had triggered a raise in alert level, but unrest declined soon after again and the volcano was placed back to normal again on 16 July, as no further changes in activity had been detected.

The current, most recent phase of unrest began apparently last year. A series of deep earthquakes could be felt in the region in November. Since January, the observatory noted an increase in the number and size of shallow volcanic earthquakes. Weakly felt quakes occurred on 12 January, as well as on 18 and 24 February. Long-period quakes and volcanic tremor (regular vibrations), both related to internal fluid movements also started to occur since the end of past February.

The volcano's seismic activity further increased during the past week and now volcanic tremor has been a weak, but constant signal since 7 March which is why the volcano's alert level was now raised.

So far, no signs of changes in the volcano's visible (surface) activity have been noted, in particular concerning the relatively weak fumarolic activity in the summit crater. However, volcanologists interpret the increased seismic activity and its characteristics as likely created by a magma intrusion from depth, and that fluids, possibly magma, have been moving closer to the surface, causing an increase in internal pressure, and, hence the risk of sudden explosions.

For now, no evacuations are recommended, but the local population is advised to stay alert of possible tremors that can be felt. It is apparently not expected that an eruption might occur in the near future, but increased vigilance is in place as things can change quickly at active volcanoes. Past eruptions of Makian have often produced pyroclastic flows and significant ballistic ejections that pose great risk to nearby areas, especially within a radius of 2 km.

For the time being, the local population on Makian island around G. Kie Besi volcano and visitors / tourists are advised not to climb the crater and remain outside a radius of 1.5 km from gunung Kie Besi's summit crater.

Momotombo (Nicaragua): The eruption of the volcano continues with little visible changes:
Intermittent vulcanian-type explosions of mostly small, but sometimes
moderate size continue to occur at rates of 1-2 per day (on average),
the stronger ones showering the upper flanks of the cone with
incandescent material and producing ash plumes that rise 1-2 km above
the summit.

A spectacular explosion at Momotombo.

In addition, weaker activity of semi-persistent style
also occurs. Continuous glow is visible from the crater at night. This
is probably due to the presence of a small lava lake or (more likely) a
small lava dome (more viscous lava), as well as frequent, but small
(strombolian-type) explosions (that don't reach the outer rim) as INETER
reported in its recent status update (53 explosions recorded during March 3-4).

According to Nicaraguan scientists, seismic activity of the volcano has been at low to medium levels.

Nyiragongo (DR Congo): Some very unusual and alarming events have been taking place at the
volcano recently: A new eruptive vent opened at the northeastern end of
the lowest crater terrace, outside the active lava lake (which had been
in place since 2002) and just beneath the near vertical crater walls..

According to a preliminary report of the Goma Volcano Observatory
(GVO) who visited the volcano during 1-2 March, the new vent is now
forming a second lava lake. Images from a visit of GVO staff show a
spatter cone erupting fresh lava flows that pooled onto the crater
floor.

View of the crater of Nyiragongo on March 1 or 2, with the lava lake and
the new vent at the NE margin of the crater floor (Image: OVG)

The new vent on the NE end of the crater floor on 1 or 2 March 1 or 2. (OVG)

GVO reported that since the end of February, activity at the volcano
has been more intense than usual. In particular, starting from 04 am on
29 February, local inhabitants began to hear frequent rumblings coming
from the volcano almost every minute. Likely, these were caused by the
opening of the new dike (fracture occupied as pathway for the new magma)
and associated rockfalls inside the crater (the vent is directly
located near almost vertical walls). It is important to note as GVO's
report mentions, that the location of the new vent is on the
east-trending fracture zone that connects the summit vent of Nyiragongo
with the prominent flank cone Baruta to the northeast of the main
edifice, near the village of Kibumba.

This rift zone (along with the southern rift zone extending towards
Goma town) is one of the most prone locations of the volcano's dangerous
flank eruptions.

When these occur, the volcano's edifice is ruptured laterally,
allowing magma to drain outside. Such eruptions have been occurring at
intervals of few decades typically. They usually drain very large
volumes of very fluid, and hence, unusually fast flowing lava from the
lake in short time. The results of the past two such eruptions in 1977
and 2002 were catastrophic: they killed more than 1000 people, destroyed
dozends of villages and a large part of Goma town (in 2002).

Whether or not the current developments are precursor of a new
eruption from Nyiragongo's flanks is difficult to say, but the
appearance of the new vent tells that an extensional movement has taken
place on this fracture zone, something that is certainly alarming.

March 10, 2016 - KOREAN PENINSULA - North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into
the East Sea, according to the South Korean military. The launch comes
amid the biggest ever joint US-South Korean war drills, which the North
views as infringing on its sovereignty.

The missiles were fired around 5:20 a.m. local time (8:50 p.m. GMT) from North Hwanghae province. The rockets reportedly flew some 500km before landing in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) northeast of the city of Wonsan in South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.

“The military is keeping close tabs on the situation and is prepared to deal with any North Korean provocations,” said the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement.

Japan lodged a protest with North Korea following the launch at the country’s embassy in China, Kyodo news agency reported. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also summoned an emergency national security meeting after the launch.

During a meeting with nuclear scientists on Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reiterated his threat to resort to preemptive nuclear strikes in the event of aggression from the US. Kim claimed that Pyongyang had managed to construct a miniature warhead that can be fitted onto a ballistic missile.

Pyongyang’s recent belligerence appears to be a response to the joint US-South Korean military drills. More than 300,000 South Korean and some 15,000 American troops are involved in the so-called Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises that began on Monday and are set to last until April 30. The drills, which involve training for amphibious operations and wartime missions, are aimed at working out a best response to possible aggression from North Korea.

Ahead of the maneuvers, the North warned that it would launch “a preemptive and offensive nuclear strike” against the allies in the case of provocation.

The exercises were also condemned by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which said they only serve to escalate the situation on the Peninsula.

“Naturally, North Korea as a state, which is directly referred to as the object of such military activity, can have rational concerns for its security,” read the ministry’s statement, which was published on Monday. “Russia has repeatedly publicly declared its opposition to such manifestations of military and political pressure on Pyongyang,” it added.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been growing since Pyongyang’s announcement that it had successfully conducted a nuclear test on January 6. The North then fired a long-range missile allegedly bringing an earth-observing satellite into orbit on February 7.

In response, the UN Security Council passed a new resolution last Wednesday condemning North Korea’s saber-rattling and imposing a new package of harsh economic sanctions on the Hermit State. The measures include stepped up cargo inspections and bans on exporting products to North Korea that could directly contribute to the operational capabilities of the country’s military.

Pyongyang ceases all cooperation with Seoul, ‘liquidates’ Kaesong

Hours after the launch, North Korea announced that it is annulling all cooperation agreements with the South, and will “liquidate” all of the assets owned by South Korean companies on its territory, Reuters reported.

The statement primarily refers to the Kaesong industrial zone located on the border between the two Koreas, which for years has served as a symbol of cooperation. Seoul suspended its participation in the project in retaliation for Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test and a rocket launch.

“From this moment, we will view all agreements which the two Koreas have made on economic cooperation and exchanges as invalid,” said a statement published by the North’s official KCNA news agency, as quoted by Yonhap.

Pyongyang’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, which was behind the statement, also made a vague threat to Seoul, promising to deal “a devastating end to [President] Park Geun-hye and her party.”

The Kaesong Industrial Park was designed to alleviate tensions on the Korean peninsula. It was opened in 2004 and lauded as a breakthrough project symbolizing collaboration between the rivaling neighbors.

In the days after Seoul announced that it was suspending its operations at the park, South Korean workers were ordered to leave and all the South’s assets at the Park were frozen. Their estimated value amounts to 820 billion won ($663 million). Kaesong provided employment for more than 53,000 North Korean workers, who manufactured products ranging from textiles to electronics. - RT.

March 10, 2016 - HEALTH - Sexual transmission of
the Zika virus is more common than previously thought, the World Health
Organization said Tuesday, citing reports from several countries.

After a meeting of its emergency committee on Tuesday, the U.N. health agency also said there is increasing evidence that a spike in disturbing birth defects and neurological problems are caused by Zika, which is mostly spread by mosquito bites. When WHO declared the explosive outbreak in the Americas to be a global emergency last month, it said that the evidence that Zika was responsible was only circumstantial.

WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said "reports and investigations in several countries strongly suggest that sexual transmission of the virus is more common than previously assumed." The U.S. is investigating more than a dozen possible cases of Zika in people who may have been infected through sex.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, who is directing WHO's response to Zika, said the cases seen so far of sexual transmission of Zika have been from men to women. He doubted sex would play an important role in the disease's spread.

"The mosquito is undoubtedly still the main driver of transmission," he said.

Chan also said nine countries have now reported increasing cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare condition that may be linked to Zika and can cause temporary paralysis and death in people of all ages. She said that problems connected to Zika, including Guillain-Barre syndrome, are now being seen not just in women of child-bearing age, but children, teenagers and older adults.

Zika is also now spreading to new countries, WHO said. It noted local transmission has now been reported in 31 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.

"Microcephaly is now only one of several documented birth abnormalities associated with Zika infection during pregnancy," she said, adding that it can cause growth problems, injuries to the central nervous system and fetal death.

China’s Margaret Chan, General Director of the
World Health Organization, WHO, speaks during a press conference about a
second meeting of the Zika Virus Infection, at the headquarters of the
World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 8,
2016. The World Health Organization says reports from several countries
suggest that sexual transmission of the Zika virus is more common than
previously thought. (Sandro Campardo/Keystone via AP) (Associated Press)

WHO's emergency committee called for "intensified" research into the relationship between new clusters of babies born with abnormally small heads and other neurological disorders. It said particular attention should be given to studying the genetics of the different Zika virus strains and establishing studies to determine if there is a causal relationship.

The agency also noted it was important to continue studying whether other factors could be responsible for the jump in microcephaly and neurological problems, including whether several causes combined might be to blame. Aylward explained that scientists were focusing on diseases as the main suspect, noting the evidence seems "really compelling that you're looking at an infectious process here."

So far, cases of babies born with small, deformed heads linked to Zika have only been confirmed in Brazil and French Polynesia, though officials say they expect reports from other countries once the virus has been circulating there long enough to affect pregnant women. Colombia has reported several suspected cases of microcephaly.

"Women who are pregnant in affected countries or travel to these countries are understandably deeply worried," Chan said.

WHO recommends pregnant women avoid travel to areas with ongoing Zika outbreaks and that if their partners travel to affected countries, they should practice safe sex or abstain from sex for the duration of their pregnancy. - AP.

March 10, 2016 - UNITED STATES - The service issued wind advisories for several areas along Oregon and
Washington's coast and inlands, while saying hurricane force winds could
occur in coastal waters.

Forecasters expect peak winds of as much as 45 mph to hit the central
and northern Oregon coast about 5 p.m. Wednesday and last through 11
p.m. Coastal residents and travelers should expect wind gusts of up to
85 mph along beaches and headlands, the service said.

Warnings for hurricane-force means winds must surpass 64 knots, or about
74 mph, according to the weather service. "We only use the
hurricane-force terminology over the coastal waters," but equally strong
winds along the coastal beaches carry significant potential damage,
said Andy Bryant, a hydrologist with the weather service's Portland
office.

Vessels should remain in port or take shelter until winds and waves
subside. The winds are expected to be strong enough to damage trees,
disrupt power and damage property. Travel could be hazardous. "Based on
experience, we've anticipated and prepared for this weather and the
outages that could occur," said Curtis Mansfield, vice president of
operations for Pacific Power,
which serves parts of Oregon, Washington, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. "Our
crews are prepared to respond, and so we encourage our customers to be
prepared as well."

WATCH: Wild winds and waves beat Oregon Coast.

Each home should have flashlights, battery-operated radio, extra batteries, non-perishable foods, bottled water and blankets.

Further inland, the Portland and Columbia River Gorge areas should see
winds peak from 8 p.m. Wednesday through 4 a.m. Thursday. South winds
should reach 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

Elsewhere, a winter weather advisory remains in effect along the
Cascades through 4 p.m. Wednesday. Snow should fall at levels above
3,000 feet then rise to 5,000 later Wednesday. Drivers should be
prepared for icy or snow covered roads.

This post was corrected to reflect that hurricane force warning has
been issued six times for the Oregon coast since 2007. Early information
from the National Weather Service provided an incorrect figure.

March 10, 2016 - IRELAND - A bright full circle rainbow was seen over Northern Ireland on March 7, 2016.

A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured arc.

Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the sun. Rainbows can be full circles; however, the average observer sees only an arc formed by illuminated droplets above the ground, and centred on a line from the sun to the observer's eye.

In a primary rainbow, the arc shows red on the outer part and violet on the inner side. This rainbow is caused by light being refracted when entering a droplet of water, then reflected inside on the back of the droplet and refracted again when leaving it. In a double rainbow, a second arc is seen outside the primary arc, and has the order of its colours reversed, with red on the inner side of the arc.

March 10, 2016 - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - When it rains, it pours, in the case of Abu Dhabi Airport, which on
Wednesday saw roofs collapse, small planes scatter, and debris smash
into terminal doors in a heavy storm.

The severe weather conditions forced the airport to suspend all flights and cancel the UAE Air Expo 2016.

Airport staff and passengers looked on as wind and rain battered the airport, causing further destruction.

In one video, a large piece of debris smashed into a set of glass doors, causing panic among bystanders.

Arctic blast blankets Fort St. John, BC with record snowfall

It was a snowy weekend in Fort St. John and there's a new record to prove it.

According to Environment Canada, a total of 17 centimetres of the white stuff blanketed the city over the weekend, with a record 9.8 centimetres falling on Sunday on top of the seven centimetres that fell on Saturday.
Dawson Creek had only a light dusting of snow on Saturday, but saw 6.5 centimetres fall on Sunday.

"It was a good little Arctic front that passed over you guys," said Matt MacDonald, meteorologist with Environment Canada.

"It's been not the snowiest of winters up there, and, as I always
caution people, March typically comes in like a lion, and I think it was
a perfect example," he said.

The previous snowfall record for March 6 in Fort St. John was 6.6 centimetres in 1966.

El Nino Weakening, Expect La Nina Next year

Warmer temperatures are in the forecast for the rest of the week, with a
high temperature of 7 C predicted for Wednesday in Fort St. John. The
normal high for this time of year is -1 C, MacDonald said.

"So that's a good seven, eight degrees warmer than normal," he said.

It's typical of what we've seen this winter - "It's been very mild,
been one of the mildest winters on record, and that's all owing to good
old El Nino," he said.

El Nino, characterized by warmer than usual water temperatures
in the equatorial Pacific, peaked at the end of January and is now
decreasing in intensity, which is typical for the weather phenomenon.

"It usually reaches its strongest values towards the end of January, and
climate models have all been in really good agreement suggesting that
we return to neutral conditions by about May," MacDonald said.

In terms of what to expect for spring, the trend of warmer conditions
will continue, despite El Nino weakening - "It's still there,"
MacDonald said.

"The warm air is here to stay ... I think the beginning of summer we can
expect closer to normal conditions, so by the time El Nino fizzles out,
we could expect normal conditions for the month of May and June."

While we've appreciated a mild, low-snowfall winter in the Peace, we're
in store for a colder, snowier fall and winter next year with La Nina,
El Nino's opposite, making a comeback for winter 2016-17.

"Instead of the waters in the equatorial Pacific being warmer than
normal, they're going to now be colder than normal. Typically, La Nina
falls and winters mean colder than normal conditions and snowier than
usual," MacDonald explained. - Alaska Highway News.

Volcanic Aerosols Verify Imminent Global Cooling

Several studies show that when abundant aerosols from multiple or
volcanic eruptions they create a feedback loop of reflected radiation
and cooling commences. This is directly related to a weakened
magnetosphere due to the new grand solar minimum.